Redskins head coach Joe Gibbs talks about having "character" guys on his football team -- players that will uphold the tradition of the storied franchise and represent the team off the field. If Gibbs is looking for someone to dedicate his entire self to the team and the organization at the next NFL draft in April, he should look no farther than Virginia do-it-all running back Alvin Pearman.
Pearman is exactly the kind of player you want on your football team. His devotion is to the team and not to individual achievement. In this day and age in professional and college sports, many athletes only care about money and personal accolades. (I refer to Latrell Sprewell's comment about being insulted by the Minnesota Timberwolves contract offer of $10 million a season for the next three years -- "I've gotmy family to feed," said the NBA star, who will earn $14.6 million in his final contract year. Where is his family eating?) While high-profile athletes appear to be overcome by their celebrity status, Pearman seems to have escaped the egocentric personality that enraptures a lot of stars.
Pearman "has been the consummate team player," Virginia coach Al Groh said. "'Coach, what do you want me to do?Whatever you want me to do, that's great.' That's remarkable in the case of any player and even more remarkable in the circumstances right now in sports. So often it's individual numbers that are glorified."
Let's go back to late September before the game versus Syracuse. Starting wideout Deyon Williams came down with a hamstring injury during the week of practice leading up to the contest. To whom did the coaches turn to fill in? Not another receiver, but Pearman.
After Williams' injury, Pearman was forced to come in and spend most of the day going over the game plan with wide receivers coach John Garrett. Groh said Pearman would do whatever was needed for the team. Well, he definitely has.
The senior from Charlotte Country Day school returned a punt 70 yards for a touchdown versus Temple in the season opener. He took a kickoff back 93 yards to the one-yard line against the Tar Heels. He has taken cheap shots returning punts. He makes tackles on the punt team. He's first in the ACC in all-purpose yards, averaging 160.1 a game. He filled in for three games last year when Lundy was injured, and early this season he graciously filled in behind the junior.
Now in his senior year with the Cavaliers, it is looking like it is finally Pearman's time in the spotlight as he has recently taken over starting running back duties. He rushed for 393 yards the past two games in a starting role
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